Yosemite turns 150

Yosemite National Park

On June 30, 1864, the first California State Park was created when Congress enacted the Yosemite Grant Act, establishing Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove as the first protected wild land for all time. The land was later designated a National Park in 1890.

As Yosemite celebrates 150 years, a look back at some early images of the magnificent natural site.

In this image, five U.S. Army soldiers of the 24th Mounted Infantry, mounted on horses near a road in forest.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

Morning sunlight on the eastern wall of El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, with Merced River in the foreground.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

President Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir stand on a rock at Glacier Point, Yosemite, ca. May 1903.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

Mrs. George Fiske skiing in Yosemite, ca. 1890s.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

A distant silhouette view of Kitty Tatch and friend dancing on the overhanging rock at Glacier Point, Yosemite, ca. 1890s.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

The front of the Wawona Hotel in Wawona, Calif., ca. 1880s.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

R.E. Jeffrey's handcrafted motor home, built on the chassis of a 1905 Pierce Arrow; in Yosemite Valley, with the Sentinel Hotel in the distance.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

Naturalist and conservationist John Muir (1838-1914) seated on a boulder. Muir initiated efforts resulting in the creation of Yosemite National Park in 1890.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

Five men and eight women, with wagons and tent at a campsite in Yosemite Valley, ca. 1890.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

Four horses and a stagecoach on the Wawona Road to Yosemite Valley.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Falls and surrounding cliffs, with Merced River and meadows in foreground.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

Suzie McGowan, Mono Lake Paiute, standing in a meadow near Yosemite Falls, with baby Sadie in a cradlebasket on her back.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

View of lower Yosemite Valley from Union Point on the Four Mile Trail, 1961.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

Lucy Telles, also known as Pa-ma-has (1885-1955), sits beside a large basket which she completed in 1933 after about four years of work, in Yosemite.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

About 40 members of U.S. 6th Cavalry, Troop F, shown with their horses, are lined by a Fallen Monarch tree in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite, ca. 1899.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

The ski lodge building at Badger Pass Ski Area, 1936, Yosemite.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

The front of LeConte Memorial Lodge, Yosemite Valley.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

A group of about 26 Native Americans seated and standing beside a cedar bark structure, near the Merced River, Yosemite Valley, ca. 1872.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

A bear trap made of logs is pulled with a horse-drawn wagon, in front of Yosemite Store, Yosemite Valley, ca. early 1900s.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

Nine park rangers called the "First Rangers" of Yosemite National Park, are shown mounted on horses lined up in a meadow in Yosemite Valley, ca. 1915; with Yosemite Falls in distance, and dog in foreground.

Credit: National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

The view across Hetch Hetchy Valley, ca. early 1900s, from the southwestern end, showing the Tuolumne River flowing through the lower portion of the valley, prior to damming.